Pipe clamp



' NOV. 19, 1940. W, FORDON ,2,222,289

PIPE CLAMP Filed Dec. 20, 1939 Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PIPE CLAMP William J. Fordon, New York, N. Y., assigner to Rose Gringer, Bronx, N. Y.

Application December 20, 1939, Serial No. 310,143

1 Claim.

This invention relates to devices such as pipe clamps for stopping a leak in a pipe.

One object of the invention is to provide a pipe clamp having improved means adapted for caus- 5 ing the pipe clamp to reliably engage around a pipe that is very close to a wall or even in contact therewith.

Heretofore various types of ,pipe clamps have been known, which were of two general types, one comprising a band, and the other including a pair of plates. The band type has not been found to be very satisfactory for certain reasons, and hence the plate type is the one that is generally sold. However, the plate type always included locking or engagement means of one kind or another at opposite edges of the plates. Hence such a clamp could not be applied to a pipe that was close to a wall. In fact, it was often necessary to break away a part of the wall to afford clearance for the clamp.

This invention aims to overcome these diiculties and provides a device which is inexpensive, simple in use, durable, compact, convenient and reliable to a high degree, and the parts of which need not be separated or detached from each other in applying or removing the pipe clamp from a pipe.

Another object is to provide improved means for mounting a liner in the clamp to prevent the liner from slipping around while the clamp is being secured to a pipe, this mounting being accomplished in a particularly simple manner that 1s well adapted for quantity production.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification pro'- ceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the suojoined claim, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation showing a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation thereof.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on the respective lines 3 3, 4-4, and 5-5 of Fig. 1, with Fig. 4 showing the invention applied to a pipe.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the clamp plates.

(Cl. 13S- 99) Fig. '7 is a plan View of a liner element according to the invention.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exempliication of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, Ill denotes a device embodying the invention. This may include a pair of plates which, for inexpensive manufacture, are preferably exact duplicates 0f each other, whereby they can be stamped o1' cast with a single set of dies or with a single mold. By using these plates in reversed relation, as rights and lefts, they are brought in operative coordination with each other. However, other arrangements may also be used.

Each of these plates II may have a concaved pipe engaging portion I2 that is preferably curved., the same extending longitudinally of the plate. This curved portion may be adapted to engage a predetermined section of a pipe, and hence may engage around one-half, one-third or any other desired area of the pipe, with the radius of the curved portion being in accordance with the outside diameter of the pipe. Preferably allowance is also made for the interposition of a liner as hereinafter described to stop a leak in a pipe.

Extending along an edge portion I3 of the plate is a projection I4 which is preferably integral with the plate II. Intermediate of the curved portion l2 and the projection I4 is a iiange means I5 for mounting a tensioning device hereinafter described, as evidenced by the bolt holes it. It will be noted according to Figs. 3 and 4 that the free edge portion I'I of the curved portion l2 extends somewhat above the plane of the fiange I5. Preferably, the projection I4 constitutes a pivot for which purpose it may be quite thin and hence -is elongated for strength. To obtain maximum leverage, this pivot I4 is preferably disposed at the extreme outer edge at I3, and the bolt holes I6 are placed as close as possible to the curved portion I2. Simplicity of construction is best attained by arranging the pivotal projection I4 to extend above the plane of the flange I 5 to a point higher than that of the free edge portion I. Moreover, the pivotal projection is desirably positioned adjacent to an end of the flange I5. The bolt holes I6 are preferably irregular to non-rotatably secure a square shank portion or neck of a bolt. For reenforcing the curved portion I2, flanges I8 may be provided located at the opposite ends of the plate and leading into the ange I5. The flanges taper toward the free edge portion I'I so that the plate can engage a pipe I9 that may be disposed extremely close to a wall 20 as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be perceived that the flange I5 affords a seat 2I for the bolt heads which is at an acute angle, so that the bolt heads exert maximum tension at 22, remotely from the pivot I4.

Formed in the curved portion I2 near the ends thereof are a plurality of holes 23 adapted to releasably engage the integral headed end projections 24 of a liner 25, shown in Fig. '7. 'This liner may consist of rubber or other suitable sheet material that is adapted to seal a leak in a pipe, with the projections 24 serving to hold the liner in a predetermined relation to the plate Il to prevent the liner from slipping while the device I is being applied to a pipe.

The foregoing description of the plates II applies to both plates, the latter being identical. The device I0 produced by a combination of these plates will now be described.

The device II! vcomprises a pair of the plates I I, with their curved portions I2 confronting each other so as to engage around a pipe. When thus arranged the pivotal projection I4 of one plate seats on the ange l of the other plate, whereby an intertting disposition is obtained, with the projections I4 of the diiierent plates being alined and serving as a single elongated fulcrum. Consequently the flanges I5 and the free edge portions I'I are normally spaced from each other as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Extending through the alined bolt holes I6 of the different flanges are the bolts 26 having square shank portions- 2T iitted in adjacent holes, and having preferably roundfaced nuts 28, for tensioning the anges I5 toward each other. rI'fhese bolts may be arranged with their nuts at one side or another of the device. The liner 25 may likewise be engaged with either of the plates depending upon the side of the pipe at which the leak occurs.

In use, the device I is placed around a pipe so that the liner 25 covers the leak. Engagement is possible even with a pipe that is very close to a wall as shown in Fig. 4. Now the bolts 26 are tightened causing the plates II to pivot toward each other about the pivotal means I4. Hence the curved portions I2 tightly grip the pipe and compress the liner because of the leverage of the intermediate tensioning means V2S. Since the faces 2l diverge toward the curved portions I2, the head and nut of the bolts will act most powerfully on the points 22, as remotely as possible from the pivots Ill. Due to the use of a round faced nut 28, the same will not bite into the metal of the sloping surface 2| at 22. Upon actual test,

the device has been found fully satisfactory even at very considerable pressures of fluids.

The invention is thus seen to comprise confronting plates having at one end pipe' engaging confronting curved portions and at the other end pivotal means,` located preferably between the plates, and tensioning means wholly at one side of the curved portions intermediate of the latter and the pivotal means for exerting a leverage in drawing the curved portions toward each other about the pivotal means, and the curved portions having thin free ends Wholly lacking in any obstruction to permit the device to engage a pipe that is very close to a Wall.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a novel powerful actuator means for pipe clamp jaw members located at one side of the jaws. While these jaw members are held in guided coaction by the pipe itself, it may be desirable to cause the actuator means to afford a guiding coordination as by the use of bolts or other pins or fulcrums as herein suggested to assure efficient operation of the actuator means. The most effective result is obtained by providing an actuator means operative at spaced points at least one of which affords a pivotal action; at the other point, the action may be different or greater in degree, as by an axial or rotary motion of a member. The leverage principle affords a high degree of power with a simple structure and relatively limited strain with the several elements working simultaneously and in proportion with each other to avoid any possible binding and resultant breakage in applying the clamp. The simplest results are attained in the specific clamp shown, with the bolts located between the pivot and the pipe clamp jaws, since a bolt is very strong in tension, whereas the pivot, whether made of cast or malleable iron, is strongest in compression, and when used in compression, requires no interengagement other than mere contact, maintained by the guiding action of the bolts and of the pipe itself.

I claim:

A pipe clamp device comprising a plurality of plates, each having a rst curved section and a second laterally extending section, both sections respective opposing second sections with the pivot portions lying between the said second sections, and bolts extending through said holes and having clearance with certain of said holes to permit the plates to pivot toward each other.

WILLIAM J. FoRDoN. i 

